The eighteenth season of South African Idols premiered on 17 July 2022 on the Mzansi Magic television network under the theme "Singing a Different Tune".[1] Over 9,000 contestants auditioned for the season. The season was won by Thapelo Molomo and the runner-up was Nozi Sibiya.
| Idols South Africa | |
|---|---|
| Season 18 | |
| Hosted by | ProVerb |
| Judges | |
| Winner | Thapelo Molomo |
| Runner-up | Nozi Sibiya |
| Release | |
| Original network | Mzansi Magic |
| Original release | 17 July – 13 November 2022 |
| Season chronology | |
Shortly after online auditions for the season were opened, it was announced that Randall Abrahams and Unathi Nkayi would not return to the show as judges.[2] In February 2022, M-Net announced that Thembi Seete and JR replaced them, joining Somizi Mhlongo on the judges panel.[3]
Finalists
editThis season, instead of the usual Top 16, a Top 12 was announced on 21 August 2022.[4][5]
| Contestant | Age | Hometown | Place finished | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thapelo Molomo | 29 | Mokopane, Limpopo | Winner | |
| Nozi Sibiya | 27 | Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal | Runner-up | |
| Mpilwenhle Mokopu | 24 | Katlehong, Gauteng | 3rd | |
| Ty Loner | 21 | Eldorado Park, Gauteng | 4th | |
| Zee Arnolds | 18 | Cape Town, Western Cape | 5th | |
| Noxolo Mthethwa | 25 | Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal | 6th | |
| Kabelo Makhetha | 25 | Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal | 7th | |
| CeeJay Canvass | 24 | KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal | 8th | |
| Tesmin-Robyn Khanye | 23 | Katlehong, Gauteng | 9th | |
| Lerato Matsabu | 27 | Vaal, Gauteng | 10th | |
| Nandi Ndathane | 21 | Diepkloof, Gauteng | 11th | |
| Hope Mkhway | 23 | Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal | 12th | |
Weekly Song Choice and Results
editTop 12: Duets with Mzansi Stars & Greatest Hits of Today
editGroup 1 (28 August)
edit| Act | Order | Song — Duets with Mzansi Stars | Order | Song — Greatest Hits of Today | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zee | 1 | "Empini" with Kelly Khumalo | 7 | "Surprise" by Chlöe | Safe |
| Thapelo | 2 | "Langa Linye" with Mduduzi Ncube | 8 | "Love Me More" by Sam Smith | Safe |
| Hope | 3 | "Pretend" with Langa Mavuso | 9 | "Hrs and Hrs" by Muni Long | Eliminated |
| Mpilwenhle | 4 | "Phatha Kahle" with Presss | 10 | "Positions" by Ariana Grande | Safe |
| Kabelo | 5 | "Ngamkhetha" with Nomfundo Moh | 11 | "For Tonight" by Giveon | Safe |
| Tesmin-Robyn | 6 | "Pillowtalk" with Boohle | 12 | "Pressure by Ari Lennox | Safe |
Group 2 (4 September)
edit| Act | Order | Song — Duets with Mzansi Stars | Order | Song — Greatest Hits of Today | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noxolo | 1 | "Kuyenyukela" with Kelly Khumalo | 7 | "Jerome" by Lizzo | Safe |
| Nandi | 2 | "Ngimnandi" with Boohle | 8 | "Enough" by Fantasia | Eliminated |
| CeeJay | 3 | "Isgingci" with Mduduzi Ncube | 9 | "Love Nwantiti" by CKay | Safe |
| Lerato | 4 | "Soft Life" with Nomfundo Moh | 10 | "Kiss Me More" by Doja Cat | Safe |
| Ty Loner | 5 | "Cry No More" with Presss | 11 | "Last Last" by Burna Boy | Safe |
| Nozi | 6 | "Mvula" with Langa Mavuso | 12 | "Break My Soul by Beyoncé | Safe |
| Act | Order | Song[6] | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mpilwenhle | 1 | "Kahle" by Amanda Black | Safe |
| Thapelo | 2 | "All By Myself" by Celine Dion | Safe |
| Tesmin-Robyn | 3 | "More Than You" by Moneoa | Safe |
| Zee | 4 | "Jik’izinto" by Zonke | Safe |
| Kabelo | 5 | "Her Heart" by Anthony Hamilton | Safe |
| Lerato | 6 | "I Can’t Make You Love Me" by Tank | Eliminated |
| Ty Loner | 7 | "Thando" by Lloyd Cele | Safe |
| Noxolo | 8 | "Masterpiece (Mona Lisa)" by Jazmine Sullivan | Safe |
| Nozi | 9 | "Giving Myself" by Jennifer Hudson | Safe |
| CeeJay | 10 | "Tonight (Best You Ever Had)" by John Legend | Safe |
Top 9: History of Music in Mzansi (18 September)
edit| Act | Order | Song[7] | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noxolo | 1 | "Shebeleza" by Joe Mafela | Safe |
| Kabelo | 2 | "Ekuseni" by Ringo Madlingozi | Safe |
| Mpilwenhle | 3 | "Nomalanga" by Caiphus Semenya | Safe |
| CeeJay | 4 | "Send Me (South Africa)" by Hugh Masekela | Safe |
| Tesmin-Robyn | 5 | "Siyaya Phambili" by Stimela | Eliminated |
| Ty Loner | 6 | "Scatterlings of Africa" by Juluka | Safe |
| Nozi | 7 | "Nizalwa Ngobani" by Thandiswa Mazwai | Safe |
| Thapelo | 8 | "Papa" by Sankomota | Safe |
| Zee | 9 | "Mama I’m Sorry" by Brenda Fassie | Safe |
Top 8: Parents' High School Crush (25 September)
edit| Act | Order | Song[8] | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nozi | 1 | "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack | Safe |
| CeeJay | 2 | "Mas’thokoze" by Mafikizolo | Eliminated |
| Zee | 3 | "(I Can’t Help) Falling in Love With You" by UB40 | Safe |
| Kabelo | 4 | "Here and Now" by Luther Vandross | Safe |
| Ty Loner | 5 | "Can You Stand The Rain" by New Edition | Safe |
| Thapelo | 6 | "Let It Be" by The Beatles | Safe |
| Mpilwenhle | 7 | "Hero" by Mariah Carey | Safe |
| Noxolo | 8 | "Miss You Like Crazy" by Natalie Cole | Safe |
Top 7: Showstopper (2 October)
edit| Act | Order | Song [9] | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kabelo | 1 | "Yeah!" by Usher feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris | Eliminated |
| Noxolo | 2 | "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" by Whitney Houston | Safe |
| Mpilwenhle | 3 | "Run the World (Girls)" by Beyoncé | Safe |
| Thapelo | 4 | "Di Boya Limpopo" by Master KG feat. Zanda Zakhuza & Makhadzi | Safe |
| Zee | 5 | "Grown Woman" by Beyoncé | Safe |
| Ty Loner | 6 | "Locked Out of Heaven" by Bruno Mars | Safe |
| Nozi | 7 | "Don't Stop the Music" by Rihanna | Safe |
Top 6: Lifesong & Joyous Celebration (9 October)
edit| Act | Order | Song — Lifesong[10] | Order | Song — Joyous Celebration[10] | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zee | 1 | "Hurt" by Christina Aguilera | 7 | "Uzuliphathe Kahle" with Joyous Celebration | Safe |
| Noxolo | 2 | "We Were Here" by Simmy | 8 | "My Help" with Joyous Celebration | Eliminated |
| Ty Loner | 3 | "Rock with You" by Michael Jackson | 9 | "Who Am I?" with Joyous Celebration | Safe |
| Nozi | 4 | "One Night Only" by Jennifer Holliday | 10 | "Wenzile" with Joyous Celebration | Safe |
| Mpilwenhle | 5 | "Man in the Mirror" by Michael Jackson | 11 | "Ndenzel’ Uncedo" with Joyous Celebration | Safe |
| Thapelo | 6 | "I Look to You" by "Whitney Houston" | 12 | "Hallelujah Nkateko" with Joyous Celebration | Safe |
| Act | Order | Song — Babyface [11] | Order | Song — Local Chart Toppers[11] | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zee | 1 | "Breathe Again" by Toni Braxton | 6 | "Abalele" by Kabza de Small & DJ Maphorisa feat. Ami Faku | Eliminated |
| Ty Loner | 2 | "The Color of Love" by Boyz II Men | 7 | "Mgani" by A-Reece | Safe |
| Thapelo | 3 | "End of the Road" by Boyz II Men | 8 | "Sponky Ponky" by Jabu Khanyile | Safe |
| Nozi | 4 | "Never Gonna Let You Go" by Faith Evans | 9 | "Asibe Happy" by Kabza de Small & DJ Maphorisa feat. Ami Faku | Safe |
| Mpilwenhle | 5 | "Another Sad Love Song" by Toni Braxton | 10 | "Dali Nguwe" by Master KG & Wanitwa Mos feat. Nkosazana Daughter | Safe |
Top 4: New School Mzansi Hits & How It Should Have Been Done (23 October)
edit| Act | Order | Song — New School Mzansi Hits[12] | Order | Song — How It Should Have Been Done[12] | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mpilwenhle | 1 | "Khusela" by Kabza de Small feat. Msaki | 5 | "Jealous" by Labrinth | Safe |
| Ty Loner | 2 | "Selema (Po Po)" by Musa Keys & Loui | 6 | "You & I (Nobody in the World)" by John Legend | Eliminated |
| Thapelo | 3 | "Seasons" by Lloyiso | 7 | "Ndikuthandile" by Vusi Nova | Safe |
| Nozi | 4 | "Thando" by Mvzzle feat. Zammy | 8 | "Listen" by Beyoncé | Safe |
Top 3: My Audition Song, Divas and Divos & Judges' Choice (30 October)
edit| Act | Order | Song — My Audition Song[13] | Order | Song — Divas and Divos[13] | Order | Song — Judges' Choice[13] | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nozi | 1 | "Best Part" by Daniel Caesar feat. H.E.R. | 4 | "Try a Little Tenderness" by Aretha Franklin | 7 | "Rise Up" by Andra Day | Safe |
| Mpilwenhle | 2 | "Ke Mo Afrika" by Maleh | 5 | "Angel of Mine" by Monica | 8 | "A Long Walk" by Jill Scott | Eliminated |
| Thapelo | 3 | "Esphambanweni" by Kelly Khumalo | 6 | "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Michael Bolton | 9 | "So Amazing" by Luther Vandross | Safe |
Top 2 (6 November)
edit| Act | Order | Song — Idols-produced Single[14] | Order | Song — Viewers' Choice[14] | Order | Song — Song of the Season[14] | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thapelo | 1 | "Phanda" by Thapelo Molomo | 3 | "Thanayi" by Hugh Masekela | 5 | "Let It Be" by The Beatles | Winner |
| Nozi | 2 | "Idliso" by Nozi Sibiya | 4 | "Moments Away" by Mango Groove | 6 | "Giving Myself" by Jennifer Hudson | Runner-up |
- Before her elimination, Mpilwenhle Mokopu performed her single "Ngiyazifela".[15]
Elimination Chart
edit- Colour key
| – | Winner |
| – | Runner-up |
| – | Eliminated |
| – | Wild Card |
| – | Withdrew |
| Act | Top 12 | Top 10 | Top 9 | Top 8 | Top 7 | Top 6 | Top 5 | Top 4 | Top 3 | Top 2: Finale | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | Group 2 | ||||||||||
| Thapelo Molomo | Safe | — | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Winner |
| Nozi Sibiya | — | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Runner-up |
| Mpilwenhle Mokopu | Safe | — | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | 3rd place | Eliminated |
| Ty Loner | — | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | 4th place | Eliminated | |
| Zee Arnolds | Safe | — | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | 5th place | Eliminated | ||
| Noxolo Mthethwa | — | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | 6th place | Eliminated | |||
| Kabelo Makhetha | Safe | — | Safe | Safe | Safe | 7th place | Eliminated | ||||
| CeeJay Canvass | — | Safe | Safe | Safe | 8th place | Eliminated | |||||
| Tesmin-Robyn Khanye | Safe | — | Safe | 9th place | Eliminated | ||||||
| Lerato Matsabu | — | Safe | 10th place | Eliminated | |||||||
| Nandi Ndathane | — | 11th place | Eliminated | ||||||||
| Hope Mkhway | 12th place | Eliminated | |||||||||
References
edit- ^ Legodi, Simangele (8 July 2022). "SINGING A DIFFERENT TUNE: IDOLS SA SEASON 18 IS BACK". EWN. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
- ^ Madibogo, Julia (23 January 2022). "Idols SA bids farewell to Randall Abrahams and Unathi Nkayi". News24. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ^ Mphande, Joy (16 February 2022). "Thembi Seete and JR join Somizi as 'Idols SA season 18' judges". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
- ^ Zuma, Mbalenhle (22 August 2022). "Meet your amazing 'Idols SA Season 18' top 12 contestants". Sunday World.
- ^ Seemela, Masego (22 August 2022). "Crowd faves make it to Idols SA top 12". SowetanLIVE.
- ^ "Mzanzi, meet your season 18 top 10 finalists for 'Idols SA'". IOL. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
- ^ Valentine, Venecia (19 September 2022). "Mzansi vote for their 'Idols SA' season 18 top 9". IOL. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
- ^ Khathi, Mzwandile (29 September 2022). "Idols SA top 8 give spectacular performances". Soweto Urban. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ Valentine, Venecia (4 October 2022). "'Idols SA' season 18 announces its Top 7 in a blur of lights, props and dashing outfits". IOL. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ a b Mbhele, Sandisiwe (10 October 2022). "Idols SA's top six bring out the joy". The Citizen. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
- ^ a b Selisho, Kaunda (17 October 2022). "Idols SA top 5 announced after 13 million votes". The Citizen. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
- ^ a b Mbhele, Sandisiwe (24 October 2022). "Idols SA top 4 reactions: 'Somizi must apologise to Llyoiso'". The Citizen. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ a b c Dayile, Qhama (31 October 2022). "Meet Idols SA season 18 top three contestants". News24. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
- ^ a b c Magagula, Nompumelelo (7 November 2022). "Idols Season 18: Who will take the crown among these two finalists?". City Press. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ Magadla, Mahlohonolo (7 November 2022). "'Idols SA was a stepping stone for my music career' – Mpilwenhle on joining the show". True Love. Retrieved 13 November 2022.